The Odyssey And Its Themes Essay - 709 Words

The Odyssey and Its Themes Homers great literary classic, The Odyssey, represents and illustrates many emotional and mental values. All of these values can be classified under three different main themes that are constant throughout the epic tale. These themes are: A boys struggle to be a man, a kings struggle to reclaim his kingdom, and a mans struggle to return home. As one reads this book it will become more and more evident to them that a mans struggle to get home is the most important theme throughout Homers adventure. In The Odyssey, Odysseuss longing for his home and family is what drives the story. That is his one goal in the entire book, and that really states something about his character. In Book 5 we are first†¦show more content†¦Some of the obstacles included the Lotus-Eaters, Cyclops, Sirens, Scylla, and Charybdis. In many ways these creatures and temptations represent all obstacles that get in the way of goals. They are the classic feat that the protagonist, Odysseus, must overcome to get to his goal, home. One of the most fearsome, brutish obstacles was Polyphemus, the Cyclops. Polyphemus ends up destroying a large portion of Odysseuss crew as described in lines 746-752. Neither reply nor pity came from him, but in one stride he clutched at my companions and caught two in his hands like squirming puppies to beat their brains out, spattering the floor. Then he dismembered them and made his mealamp;#8230;; This descriptive brutality shows you just how much a gigantic, intimidatin g obstacle Polyphemus was. Another one of these obstacles was Scylla. Scyllas attack was described in lines 1338-1343. Then Scylla made her strike, whisking six of my best men from the ship. I happened to glance aft at ship and oarsmen and caught sight of their arms and legs dangling high overhead.; This is yet another grim reminder of just how determined Odysseus is to get to his home and family. Throughout The Odyssey, Odysseus is warned many times of the perils and difficulty of his journey. All through these times it seems that Odysseus will never get home, but he never loses hope. In Book 11, Odysseus ventures into hell to meet with the great prophet, Teiresias. Teiresias prophesizes, But anguish liesShow MoreRelatedThe Odyssey and Its Themes771 Words   |  4 PagesThe Odyssey and Its Themes Homer#8217;s great literary classic, The Odyssey, represents and illustrates many emotional and mental values. All of these values can be classified under three different main themes that are constant throughout the epic tale. These themes are: A boy#8217;s struggle to be a man, a king#8217;s struggle to reclaim his kingdom, and a man#8217;s struggle to return home. As one reads this book it will become more and more evident to them that a man#8217;s struggleRead MoreTheme Of Similes In The Odyssey767 Words   |  4 PagesThe Odyssey of Homer presents a large variety of themes, and also reinforces them through several different techniques. One of the primary ways Homer strengthens the themes outlined in The Odyssey is through the use of literary devices, specifically similes. One of the central themes in The Odyssey which is strengthened through the use of simile is Odysseus’ ability to use deception rather than sheer strength to escape perilous situations. Another centra l theme emphasized by similes is the longingRead MoreTheme Of Violence In The Odyssey1025 Words   |  5 Pages The Odyssey by Homer is a literary classic that presents many themes about the natures of both man and god. Although the characters of the book display characteristics relatable to those of the people today, one of the most prevalent differences between the two eras and their people is the intense violence that takes place throughout the entirety of the epic. This violence serves several functions in the work as a whole. The violence that is enacted upon the characters of The Odyssey serve as aRead MoreTheme Of Loyalty In The Odyssey973 Words   |  4 PagesThe major themes of The Odyssey are loyalty, hospitality, revenge and Disguise. Penelope stays loyal to Odysseus for 20 years, waiting for him to return home and Eurycleia is loyal to Odysseus and tells him who had been disloyal to him while he was away. When Homer recorded The Odyssey, members of the household and staff were loyal to the paterfamilias. Loyalty was expected in ancient Greek times out of respect. Women and servants were submissive to the paterfamilias and their loyalty demonstratedRead MoreTheme Of Faithfulness In The Odyssey958 Words   |  4 PagesThemes are a very important concept of any story. Themes show what a story is all about. In the story, The Odyssey, there are quite a few important themes. Each one has a different meaning. The theme of faithfulness stands out the most in The Odyssey. Faithfulness is shown many different times in this story. Faithfulness is shown through Odysseus with his crew and family, Athena, and Penelope himself. All of these characters show faithfulness in different ways. Faithfulness is definitely a key traitR ead MoreThe Odyssey : Themes Of Loyalty, Justice, And Hospitality1017 Words   |  5 Pagesand works of literature. When teachers teach about analyzation within works of literature, most attempt to have a student find a theme, or what the author is trying to teach the reader. While some books only have one themes, others have a multiple. In one of Homer s most famous pieces of literature, various themes can be found. Throughout The Odyssey, three major themes of loyalty, justice, and hospitality are present. Loyalty is a basic human virtue that is glaringly visible in this book.Read MoreWhy Is Xenia Such an Important Theme in the Odyssey?1211 Words   |  5 PagesWhy is Xenia such an important theme in the Odyssey? Explain your views and support them with details from the poem. (45 marks) The concept of guest hospitality was extremely important in ancient Greece. Evidence that Xenia was integral to Greek society can be found in the fact that Zeus, the king of the Gods, was also portrayed as the God of Xenia. Xenia created an obligation for the host to be hospitable to their guests, and conversely, the guests had their own responsibilities too. If eitherRead MoreWhat Is The Theme Of Pathos And Logos In The Odyssey929 Words   |  4 Pageshardships. This theme is demonstrated through pathos and logos in both â€Å"The Odyssey† by Homer and â€Å"Back from War but Not Really Home† by Caroline Alexander. These texts use these rhetorical devices to prove that a soldier’s struggle does not stop when he leaves the battlefield. By doing so, they open the eyes of the reader to the injustice they face. In both articles, pathos, or emotional appeal, is used to show the awkwardness between survivors and civilians. We can see this in the Odyssey when the textRead MoreTheme of Revenge in Homers Odyssey Essay878 Words   |  4 PagesHomer’s The Odyssey is not just a tale of a man’s struggle on his journey home from the Trojan War, but of his struggle from the consequences of revenge. The Odyssey weaves in different characters’ tales of revenge from the gods and what impact revenge actually had on those characters. Revenge is an important underlying theme in The Odyssey because, in essence, it explains why Odysseus’ journey was so prolonged and treacherous. A few examples of revenge in the poem include Orestes’ revenge onRead MoreHuman Themes Of Homer s The Odyssey1261 Words   |  6 PagesHuman themes that dominate Homer’s The Odyssey is hubris. During his adventure with the Cyclops, Odysseus cleverly blinded the beast with a stake in his eye. He even went as far as saying that his name was Nobody so when the Cyclops would scream in pain and try to get help, nobody would help him for he would say â€Å"Nobody is hurting me†. However, Odysseus went to far when he escaped by not only yelling out his actual name but saying exactly who he is and where he can be located. I find this quite funny

Is Religion Necessary for Morality to Exist - 1988 Words

Religion and morality cannot be separated. Nietzsche questions if morality is even necessary. Is gravity necessary? Yes, it is the force that keeps the world from falling apart more than it already does. Murdoch asks if religion is necessary for morality to exist, which is answered by a second question, â€Å"Can a society build a stable structure of morality apart from that which it intrinsically is? Finally, she goes on to discuss what morality would look like outside of religion. The objective structure for morality is God, as such, one cannot truly have morality, or virtue, outside of God. Every person is born with a sense of morality, and yet, this is not outside of God, because He put it there. Man can attempt to use this innate†¦show more content†¦He further confuses cause and effect when he claims that In truth, all these supposed explanations are resultant states and, as it were, translations of pleasurable or unpleasurable feelings into a false dialect: one is in a state of hope because the basic physiological feeling is once again strong and rich; one trusts in God because the feeling of fullness and strength gives a sense of rest. Morality and religion belong altogether to the psychology of error: in every single case, cause and effect are confused; or truth is confused with the effects of believing something to be true; or a state of consciousness is confused with its causes† (Nietzsche 355). Nietzsche argues that a great many people have had causes and effects mixed up for â€Å"every single case† for many years. Is it not more likely that Nietzsche has mixed them up just now? A child cries because he is hungry, he is not hungry because he is crying. Likewise, he is full because he has eaten, he has not eaten because he felt full. The proverbial chicken came before the egg, for in reality, it is human nature which is against morality, not the other way around. People are evil by nature since they began to disobey God. King describes sin when he says, â€Å"If we share a brotherhood of man, then we also share an insanity of man. [†¦] It is morbidity unchained, our most base instincts let free, our nastiest fantasies realized... and it all happens,Show MoreRelatedReligion and Morality1263 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿RELIGION AND MORALITY (i)Examine the views of scholars concerning the idea that religion and morality are linked. In this essay I am going to be looking at all the different view points on why some people may think religion and morality are linked. I will talk about a few things that link them such as conscience, divine command ethics, Kant s view and Aquinas view. Many people believe that morality is based upon religion and the rules written in the Bible and other holy books, althoughRead MoreEssay on Morality and Religion Debate1143 Words   |  5 PagesMorality and Religion Debate In an organized religion debate, Alan Dershowitz and Alan Keyes contended many issues on religion and morality. Alan Dershowitz, a Harvard law professor, believed that morality can be maintained without religion. He also stated that it must be maintained without religion because times have changed. He said that if religion is not separated from state it could have severe damage, such as the Crusades and the Holocaust. Dershowitz believes that there is a differenceRead MoreControversy Between the Existence of God Essay example1451 Words   |  6 PagesIn â€Å"The Brothers Karamazov† by Fyodor Dostoevsky made a famous claim that establishes the link between the existence of God and morality. Apart from the controversy related to the scope of the quotation, the discussion on the proper translation and interpretation of the words of Ivan Karamazov. For instance, in his article â€Å"Dostoevsky did not say it† D.Cortesi claims that Dostoevsky did not make such claim (Co rtesi 1). However, the research by Russian-speaking authors shows that the original textRead MoreA Critic Of Dr. Schelessingean839 Words   |  4 Pages Schlessingean’s belief that morality can only be attained if individuals accept scripture and fear God. According to that logic, God can never punish an individual for being immoral if that person was ignorant of, in this instance, the Christian God or his teachings. A person can only be moral if they know the steps required. In this case, that entails becoming a Christian. A more potent and convincing argument which attempts to fasten God to the helm of morality, is the one previously postulatedRead MoreThe Christian View Of God1647 Words   |  7 Pagesperfection. Because these two truths cannot coexist, the fact that evil exists disproves the existence of the Christian God. If God is omnipotent, He could prevent any injustice. Since injustice does exist, it is necessary to modify either our perception of God s morality of, the extent of his power, or the limitations of human understanding. It is unlikely that God allows for the existence of evil due to a moral reason. This view of morality comes from our modern interpretation of ethics and would needRead MoreCS Lewiss Moral Argument and the Existence of a God Essay1538 Words   |  7 PagesCS Lewis’s Moral Argument and the Existence of a God The question of whether or not God exists has been asked by billions of people since the concept of religion emerged. Many people try to explain things such as hurricanes and tornadoes as â€Å"Acts of God† or even the existence of human beings and the world itself to be â€Å"created† by an almighty power. Others claim that the harm they inflict was demanded of them by their God. CS Lewis argues that through the comprehension of standards of good andRead MoreLaw And Morality From The View Of Natural Law Theorists And Legal Positivists Essay1514 Words   |  7 PagesLaw and morality can be defined by the interpretation of the individual who is referring to it. If the natural law theorists interpret the connection between law and morality a certain way then legal positivists will interpret it another way. So this means that they will never have the exact same view, it could be slightly similar but never the same. Every philosopher, no matter if they are a natural law t heorist or a legal positivist theorist they will think what they want to believe because theyRead More Evolution of the Moral Code1620 Words   |  7 PagesEvolution of the Moral Code Morality is the herding instinct of the individual.  Ã‚  Ã‚   -Nietzsche Within the depths of your imagination, two tribes exist. Peaceful hunter-gatherers, they are exactly equal in every respect. All of the variables in their environment are the same or cancel each other out. Their birth and death rates coincide exactly, their resources and location are so similar that they could be the same tribe. They remain in this state of equality, completely unaware ofRead MoreThe Security Vs. Freedom955 Words   |  4 Pages7. Security VS Freedom Devlin constructs the argument that there should be no limitation to the preservation of morality, just as there are none in the prevention of treason, since both are imperative to a society. This assumes that the state should have unlimited power when it comes to preventing acts against the society. The debate between security and freedom however, shows that this is not an undisputed fact. Without picking a side, it is still evident that just because something is perceivedRead MoreReligion and Morality1563 Words   |  7 PagesIn this paper I will discuss the relationship between religion and morality. I will first address the question asked by those with religion, how are atheists moral? Then I will examine morality and its relativity to culture. Next I will explore whether those without a religion are actually more moral than those with a religion. And finally, I will discuss any possible objections to my claims. This argument is in no way saying that those that believe in God are unmoral but that those who don’t

The Human Experience Free Essays

The Human Experience is a very touching movie. Throughout the movie we encounter all kinds of problems. There are many themes of forgiveness and healing in the movie. We will write a custom essay sample on The Human Experience or any similar topic only for you Order Now This movie is not only full of emotions, but it also helps you reflect on your life, and the actions we make as a humans. We find forgiveness and healing in our life’s by reflecting in our actions, and by taking action and actually trying to be better persons. In the movie we see all kinds of people in need of healing in their hearts. The two most common themes of healing we see in the movie are emotional and relational healing. Jeffrey Azize is in need of both emotional and relationship healing. When he was little his relationship with his father was not good. Jeffrey father was an alcoholic. Jeffrey remembers seeing his father more under the influence than sober. Jeffrey is in need of that love of his father. Jeffrey needs to learn how to forgive his father in order to have a better relationship with his father. At the end of the movie, we hear Jeffrey saying â€Å"Have you ever had a moment where you feel like everything is just right in the world? Time stops, and the stars are in line. It was the first time in a long time I could feel peace in my heart†. He felt at peace after going through all those experiences. He witnessed a lot, which made him forgive his father. He was able to heal. The Human Experience made me realize that there are bigger problems in our world. It taught me that I shouldn’t take anything for granted. Just like the homeless guy said â€Å"One day you might have a home, but the next day you might be on the streets†. This made me reflect on my life, it made me realize that I’m also in need of healing. It made me think of how ungrateful I am and how I never say thank you for the smallest thing. This movie taught me that I could make a difference, by doing something small like donating my time or donating things I don’t need to those who are in need. Overall this movie was amazing. I could watch it a million times, and every time it would have the same or bigger impact in my life. In my life I personally need a lot of healing. I’m in need of both emotional and relation healing. I’m one of those persons, who don’t forgive others. If you hurt me in some way I might say I forgive you but at the end I really won’t. I also have a lot of trust issues. It’s hard for me to trust someone, especially if they’ve hurt me before. For me trust is like a paper, once it’s crumble it can’t be perfect. I know that everything happens for a reason, but sometimes I wish I knew what that reason was. I guess that I need to learn how to forgive others, and to trust people. I need to open up more. Overall our society needs a lot of healing. Our society is really not acceptable. It makes me sad to see the way society is structured. Our society is truly ugly. The ugly truth about our society is that no one cares unless you’re pretty or dying. Every day I ask myself what’s wrong with the world? We see that a lot of people are victims of our society, but we don’t do anything to change. Every 40 seconds, someone dies from suicide. Suicide is mostly seen among teens because they are being bullied for not looking or acting a certain way. Society no longer knows the meaning of beauty. It’s hard to grow up in a world where you never feel like you’re pretty enough. In this society you need to have designer clothing, you need to be size 0, you need to have a clean face, you need to wear makeup, you need to have perfect eye vision and perfect teeth; if you don’t then you’re automatically called ugly. We are the ones that are destroying our world. We are the ones bringing all that sin into this world. We all need emotional healing. We are in need of that love. Another kind of healing this society needs is that they need to accept the way they are. Everyone is unique in this world. I see the world like a big food bowl; we are all different which makes things more interesting. We need to be happy with the way we look, and embrace it. Helping others is the best gift to help you heal. Helping others makes you realize that you should never take things for granted. By helping others I realized that doing something so simple like reading a book will bring a lot of smiles. Not only do you make someone smile but it also helps you reflect in your life. I have learned so many things about me by helping others. I learned about my trusting issues by helping others, and slowly I’m healing. Step by step I’m learning how to trust people. It’s not a big change, but in order to change you need to take small steps, and that’s exactly what I’m doing. My faith with God was shattered, but by healing I’m putting back the pieces together. I’m learning how to trust God, and leaving everything on his hands. I’m truly healing. Over all everyone needs healing. It’s not only me, but millions of others that are in need of healing. If you are not content with yourself, it’s obvious you need some kind of healing. If you can’t accept yourself, what makes you think that you can accept others? If you criticize yourself what makes you think that you won’t criticize others. In order for society to heal, we need to heal our soul firsts. By helping others, you realize your needs, It’s all a big circle. You need to help others, one you help them you see where you need healing, after healing yourself you realize that society needs healing, once you heal yourself you’re able to help society become better. How to cite The Human Experience, Essay examples